Doll c. 1936

This painting of a doll was made by Du Bois sometime between 1775 and 1875. It’s done with watercolors, which is a quick and fluid medium. Looking at it, you can tell it was probably done in a single session. The peach color is really interesting. It’s used in layers, sometimes transparent, sometimes opaque, to create the folds of the doll’s dress. You can see the strokes. The lace on the doll's bodice is suggested with just a few flicks of white and grey paint, which is all you need. Sometimes it's better not to belabor the point. It reminds me a bit of Fairfield Porter's paintings of domestic scenes, but with a kind of spooky folk art vibe. It’s like glimpsing a memory, faded but still present. It shows how art doesn’t always have to shout; sometimes, it can whisper.